Electrically-controlled door-operating apparatus



A ril 5 1927.

p v P. R. FORMAN ELECTRICAL-LY CONTROLLED DOOR OPERATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6,, 1926 April P. R. FORMAN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED DOOR OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1926 5 Shets-Sheet 2 April 5,1927.

P. R. FORMAN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED DOOR OPERATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet s wvm WQ\ 6 "Wa g \W QQ\ 2: N? a NQ 4 Saw a m N n 3 April 5,1927,

y P. R. FORMAN ELECTRICAL'LY CONTROLLED DOOR OPERATING APPARATUS 5. Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jgn. 6, 1926 ril 5 1927. AP P. R. FORMAN ELECTRICAL-LY CONTROLLED noon OPERATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 6, 1926 I'lllllll I- I I Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED srars PARIS R. FOR-MAN, OF RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL PNEUMATIC COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

ELECTRICALLY-CONTROLLED DOOR-OPERATING AIEPARATUS.

Application filed January 6, 1926.

This invention relates to apparatus for operating doors on .street, subway and elevated cars, busses or the like. The object of the invention is to provide apparatus of this nature which is simple in structure, eflicient in operation and economical of manufacture.

A' further object of the invention is to provide mechanical electrical control of door operating motors of the pneumatic type and which permits conjoint control by the passengers and the motorman, conductor or other attendant on the vehicle.

Further objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, as well as the circuit arrangement and equipment employed in connection therewith, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation showing the door operating and control apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary v ew showing an end view of the door operating motor and door support.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring connections employed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the treadle switch employed in accordance with my in vention.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the door control switch employed in accordance with my invention. 1 I

Fig. 8 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 9 is an elevated View of the key operated street collectors switch employed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 10 is a front view of the same.

The same part is designated by the same reference characters wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In my'copending application, Serial No. 80,229 filed January 9, 1926, I have shown Serial No. 79,595.

several constructions of so-called one man control vehicle with conjoint treadle control of the door operating apparatus. In such equlpment means are provided for the one operator of the vehicle who for convenience may be called the motorman, whereby he may conveniently control and operate the doors of the vehicle so as to permit ingress and egress of passengers, and whereby, operating through pressure to the door engines, is conjointly controlled by a handle conveniently positioned adjacent to the mo tormans station, and a treadle or depressible platform at or near the exit doorway, upon which the passenger desiring to leave the car is compelled to stand or step upon. In this way, the motorman, in bringing his car to rest, manipulates a lever and if a passenger under such conditions is standing or steps upon the treadle, afluid pressure is admitted.

to the door engine whereby the latter becomes operative to open the door and lower the step. Furthermore, means are provided for retaining the door and step in their open position as long as a passenger is standing upon either the treadle or the step. As a safety feature, means are provided whereby the door may not be opened by a passenger standing on the treadle unless the brakes are applied; i. e., the car is at rest. In my copending application, however, the control of the door engine is eflected mechanically by means of levers, links, bell cranks and the like.

Inasmuch as the control of pneumatic engines for operating doors has now been highly developed electrically, whereby electrical control of the fluid pressure by means of magnet valves and the like, it is among the special purposes of my present invention to accomplish the same results by means of electrical as distinguished from straight mechanical control of valves which in turn control the supply of fluid pressure to and from the door engine.

Referring to Fig. 1, therefore, I provide doors 2-2 which are mounted on shaft 4 by means of plate pieces 5. The doors are hinged together as at 6. The step tread 9 is secured to the brackets 10 which are mounted on shaft 11 for rotation with it in the bearings 12 mounted on the car frame 12 appear hereinafter.

a rectangular opening framed by angle irons 21 within which is mounted a treadlc platea22 flush with the floor 96. 'The. plate 22 is hinged-at 23 (Fig. 3) near the end" furthest from the: door as before described.

Mountedion the car frame-'12 directly un-- der-the torward depressible end of plate is a;-door.controlswitch 97 having avertical plunger-98 pressed upwardly by a: spring in thacasing 99.1 :The upper end of plunger. 98 cont-acts 'with the undersurfaceot the treadle plate and-on the lower end of plunger, 98 is an insulated cont-act making plate100 forcompleting an electric circuit between-contacts 101: and 102. Mounted for slidingin' projections 103' and 104 is a rod 105..which engages a short pivoted lever 106 pivotallyTattached-to the casing; 99. The lower end l07=ot rod engages an angle plate 108 mounted on the bar 95.

Referring 110w to Fig, 4 showing the cir-* cuit connections of the electrical treadle control,"'contact terminal 101 is. connected'by a Wire .109 to the magnet valvellO ot' the well known type :which controls the valve 1111 by the door engine13. The other tcrminali112 of magnetvalve 110 is'groundedto thefcar frame; 1Vire=113 goes from contact terminal-102, to the motormans puslr but" t'on' control' switch 114 which will be described in detail lateri ire 113 is' attached to terminal 115, and wire 119 shunts the contacts 116; 117 and 118; The contact :120 is connected to the positive side of the power source by lead 121. The wire connection 122 connects contact 123 with lead 109. At- 124 is shown"='a street collectors switch, which will be described in detail later, it lead 126' connected to lead 109 and a lead 127' connected to the positive side of the power source; a

In' Figs. 5 and 6 is shown in detail the treadle' controlled -switch 97 with the projectiions 103 and 104 in which rod 105 slides.

The lower end 107 contacts with angle plate 108 on her 95 which is bolted to projections 94 of step arms 19, as before described; The upper end of rod 105 contacts with pivoted lever 106 mounted on the short pin 128 in brackets-129 mounted on projections 103.

The other end of the lever 106 is fastened to casing 99 whichin turn is keyed to rod 98. The rod 98 is secured to the- U-s'hapcd bracket-130 by nuts so as to moveup and box-97 through pipe 134-. I

down with treadle plate 22 since the U- shaped bracket is bolted to it. A coiled spring 131 encircles rod 98 within the casing 99 and a cup shaped projection 132. on box 97 so that the casing .99 is forced up- 70 wardly. The lower end of rod 98 has secured to it an insulated contact plate for closing the circuit through contacts 102and- 101 mounted on the insulating-block 133. The leads 109 and. 113. are connected respec- 7.5 tively to contacts lOl'and 102. Thus when a passenger. steps on the plate 22 rod 98 slides downwardly closing the circuits between contacts 101 and 102. The leadj'wireseenten' 80 The .motormans: push -button ;control:-, switch 114 is shown'in detail in Fi '.-.7.- and i a 8. In the casing 114' are. the push buttons 135- and 136 with horizontal-rods 1:137 and 138 which are not in alignment (see Fig. 8;)585 An insulated contacting disc 139 is mounta Led on rod 137 which :closes thecircuitrbetwcencontacts 115 and 116 when-the button. 135 is pushed-over against the action of a spring in casing 140. similanito spring .1-41.-90 On rod 138 is another insulated contacting member .142 which closes the cireuitbetween contacts 117 and 123 when-push button136-n is pushed over againstthe: action of spring 141. t 143 is a pumperforconnectingloom-9 tacts116 and 117 vpermanentlyazogethen -At. the bottom of the casing 114 is asmall-:de-' pending cylinder 145.: in which-a piston1:46 moves upwardly a gainst the' action-of spring 5 147 when air is admitted. behind the piston' 10 through the threaded thimble:.148; vVVh-enmw the motor-man moves the handle :of control valve (not shown). to brakes-applied PO88? tion the pressure in the bra-keair line-is a'd.-' mitted behind the piston 146'so that thezpis-jal 'ton' and connected rod 149 are forced upwvardly. Rigidly secured to rod 149is a: disc 1"; 150 which closes the circuitwthroughticonaan tacts 118and 120. All the-contacts 1115, 116;

117, 119, 120 and 123 are mounted on bl-oeks' of insulating material 144; -Thc lead-1191is= shown connecting contacts-116 laud: 118;i

The inner ends of push buttoirrods 137 andi" 138 project into a casing or collar 151'. haw: ing a depending projection to whichthe n-p-z- U per end of rod 149 projects. A thimblet1z52r. fits over the end of rod 149 and a: spring .153?

is mounted hc'thiniblebetween it=and the! rod'149. A head of rribber,-fibreor otherwi' friction material 154 is attached to theithiml I ble, 152, and 1 is forced upwardly: between.

rods 137 and 138 when pressure is applied:

to the piston 146 so that either pushbutton: as will be held in depressedpositioni as long 'as the brakes are -applied.- 155 is the ipointaof entrance for lead wires 113,121. and l22.

In one man car equipment it is frequent-w.- ly desirable to have at terminal: stations, I

such asat a train or at subway stations at m whicha passenger; vehicle dischargesa great.

number of passengers at one time, to afford the services of a street collector of fares. In other words, inasmuch as the motorman himself is the sole attendant on the vehicle must collect fares from his passengers and make change where necessary, it is obvious that if a large number of passengers are to leave the vehicle at any one station, a great loss oftime would be occasioned by the necessity of all of the passengers leaving the vehicle one at a time by the conduc tor. For this reason it has been customary to provide at such terminal stations an additional attendant whose sole function is to collect fares; and to make it possible for the motorman or the attendant to open the rear door of the vehicle either inde endently of the control of or conjointly with the control of the rear door by the motorman so that when the motorman brings the car to a stop, and opens the front door through which the passengers at one end of the car may exit, the street collector may be accorded means for opening the rear door of the car and maintain this door open so as to permit passengers to pass through the rear door of the car past the street collector who collects the fares of such passengers. The street collectors switch hereinbefore mentioned is provided for this purpose.

Now, referring to Figs. 9 and 10 which show the street collectors switch 124 in detail, 156 is the key or switch handle which is adapted to be pushed into place on the rotatable shaft 157 from the outside of the car wall 158. 159 is a. drum of insulating material mounted on shaft 157 for rotation with it. The end of the shaft 157 is formed D- shaped where the handle 156 is slipped on as at 160. On the ferrule 161 is a projection 162 for entrance into a U-shaped notch 163 in the car wall 158. This prevents the key 158 from being removed until strip 164 is out of contact with spring fingers 165 and 166. On the drum 159 is a contact strip 164 which engages to spring fingers 165 and 166 mounted on an insulating block 167, thus closing the circuit between leads 126 and 127 when the drum is rotated. The wires 126 and 127 are soldered to the lugs 168 and 169 respectively. 170 are brackets for mounting switch 124 on the inside of the car wall 159. In the collar 171 are detents 172 into which a spring pressed plunger 17 is forced so that the drum can only be turned between the two detents holding the drum 159 and strip 164 in either operative or inoperative position.

The operation of the electric treadle control modification will now be described. Vhen the motorman applies his brakes and brings the car to rest, the air line pressure is applied to piston 146 which causes contacts 118 and 120 to be closed. The motorman then depresses push button 135 which on the operation is automatic due to the weightof the passenger on treadle plate The de forced downward at its free end.

pression of plate 22 causes plunger 98 to" descend and close disc 150, contact 114, lead 119, contact 116,

disc 139, contact 115, lead 113. contact 102,

disc 100, contact 101, lead 109, and then contacts 101 and 102 through the contact disc 100. The current" then passes from the positive pole of the power source through lead 121, contact 120,

through magnet valve 110 to ground lead 112. The valve 111 then admits air to the door engine 3 which opens the doors 2, 2 in the well known manner. lVhen the pas senger alights on step 9 which opens through the operation of the system of levers and cranks disclosed in the other modification of this invention, the control disc of;

switch 97 remains in contact with terminals 101 and 102 through the agency of the plate 108, plunger and lever 106 causing the rod 98 to remain depressed. When the step is cleared, the spring 13 turns step 9 up-f ward thus freeing spring 131 of the treadle switch which causes the plate 22 and rod 95 tacts 101 and 102.

well known manner to close the doors.

air line thus freeing the piston 146 as well as the brakes.

The spring 147 then forces the disc 150 away from contacts 118 and 120,

and the apparatus is reset for operation. It

will thus be seen that the doors cannot be opened by a passenger standing upon the treadle plate 22 until the brakes are applied. It the motorman wishes to open the door himself with or without some one standing" on the treadle plate, he need only depress button 136 after the brakes are applied. and

the current will pass from the positive source of the current through lead 121, con, tact 120, disc 150, contact 118, lead 119, contact 117, disc 142, contact 123, lead 122, lead 1 109 and through the magnet valve 113 to ground lead 117. the piston 148 is moved upward witlrthe application of the air brake pressure, the fric- It will be noted that when tion head 154 on piston rod 149 is forced" between the push button rods 137 and 138.

to prevent the spring 141 from forcing the push button outwardly until the pressure in" the brake air line is released.

hen the street collector wishes to open the doors from the outside, he merely inserts key 156 in place, and rotates the drum 159 and contact plate 164 to the right until plunger 173 stops it. The current then passes from the positive terminal of the power source through lead 127, contact finger, 165.-contact strip 164, contact finger 166, leads 126 and 109 to the magnet valve 1102andi the ground lead 112 Thc rear door then opens.

withthe fingers 165 and 167.

to limit-it thereto,as the invention may be embodied in other constructions, and those shownand described may be variously modi: fiedland altered without departing from the spirit .of my invention.

- I claim:

1; In a vehicle having. entrance andzexit wvays, barrier means "tor said: ways, meane ways, barrier'means for said ways, electricallyyoperated means operable by the" act of a passenger when the brakes are applied for' opening the barrier means.

QmIn-a vehicle having entrance and exit ways,barrierlmeans. for said ways, means. operable by the act of a passenger tor'opcns mg-saidrbarrier means, a treadle plate, a si 'vitchioperable by said treadle to energize said door opening means. and automatic iiieansfor closing said doors, when theipas sageways are cleared.

3. In a. vehicle having. entrance andexit ways, barrier means on said ways, means foropening-said barriers when the brakes arev applied comprising a treadlc, a treadle able (by the act of a passenger for opening.

said barriers when the brakes -.are applied,

comprising a treadleplate, a plunger switch mounted under said treadle for operation when said treadle is depressed, a push button switch operated in part by the fluid engine and automatic means for closing said barriers whensaidways are closed.

b. Ina vehicle, entrance and exit ways," barrier ways for said. ways, means actuated' by an act of a passenger foropening: said barriers and independent means .for-

opening said lJdITlGlSufl'Olll a position exterior to the vehicle. i

7. In a vehicle having entrance and exit ways, barriers for said Ways, meansxoperable by anact of a passenger for opening said barriers when the'brak-es' are applied and independent means for opening said barriers from a position external to the To close the door it is only 1 necessary to rotatezst-rip 164 out of contact.

,wa s barriers for-said wa s' incense era a moving ezsgnaa 8. In a vehicle having lBIlt-IRIICBi and ;exit-.;:3 ways, barriers torsaid ways, means operable *5 by a'passenger foropening said barriers and independent electrical means foroperating: i'

said. barriers from a position external; to 70 said vehicle.

9. In a vehicle having entrance and .:exit-.;

.ways, barrier:1ncans in said ways, means" operable by an act of a passenger-whe'n;thea

operableby an act of apassengerferopening said barriers, and lndependent ,meansw operablc'by the motorman to open saldi bar- 1" rlers.

[brakes are applied for opening said .barrierswifi l- 11. In a vehiclehaving entrance andexitrfi-"i able by an actof a passenger. when; the brakes are applied tor opemng saldibarriersy;

- and independent electrical means cfor; enerby an act of a: passenger-1v when the brakes :9

are appliedfm' removing said barriers, elec i trical means in the G211,f01 independently? said barriers, and f independent means accessible" from the; outside of said ing said bariers a 13. In a vehicle having entrance and exit 13:

ways, barriersfOr said ways, means operable by the act of a passengergfor opening; said barriers comprising a hinged ti'ead'le plate in said ways, a plunger switch mount 1' ed under said treadle so that it closesits associated circuitwhenthetreadleis deq pressed, a step, means on said switch and saidstep for maintaining said barriers OPGIIJ U when the last passenger. descendsto the step, and automatic means for closingsaid-door and step when thestepis clear.

14. In a vehicle having entrance and: exit means, barrier means for said 1 ways. means operableby an act of apassenger when the brakes are applied for opening said barriers comprising a magnet operated valve, a pneu matic door engine, a treadle plate, a' switchpression of the plate said switch is closed, a push button switch havingia; pistonwand switch blade on the rod so arrangcdthat the switch blade closes the nlagnetzvalve by a 1 reason of the piston being subjected to the? P fluid pressure-in the air bi'akedine, said push button switchi having two buttons,',one button cooperating in the associated-circuits c with the plunger switch to complete the magnet valve circuit, said piston-alsohaV.

vehicle fOP'QIIQI'glZiHg saidmeans .forfmove mounted under said plate so that on de-' ing means on it'itor frictionally holding said push button depressed and automatic means for closing said barriers when said ways are cleared.

15. In an electrical door opening system, a treadle controlled switch, a motormans push button switch, a magnet valve controlled door engine and circuit connections for said devices.

16. In an electrical barrier controlling system for vehicles, a treadle .plate in the platform of the vehicle, a switch mounted under said treadle plate, means operated by the motor-man for completing an electrical circuit to a magnet valve controlled door engine.

17. In a semiautomatic bar 'ier controlling system for vehicles, entrance and exit ways in the vehicle, barriers for said ways, electrically operated means for opening said barriers, a treadle operated switcn, means operated by the motor-man tor putting said electrically operated means under control of the treadle switch, and means for holding said motormans operated switch in operative position while the brakes are applied, and circuit connections for said device.

18. In an electrical treadle control barrier operating system, a push button switch, a treadle plate, a plunger switch mounted under said treadle plate, an electrically controlled magnet valve door engine, circuit connections for said devices, said push button switch being arranged to operate the barrier moans independent of said treadle.

19. In an electrical treadle control barrier operating system, a push button switch. a treadle plate, a plunger switch mounted under said treadle plate. an electrically controlled magnet valve door engine, circuit connections for said devices and means accessible from the exterior of the car for independently opening the barriers. 1

20. In an electrically operated door opening system, door operating means, motorman controlled electrical means and passenger controlled electrical means for energizing said door operating means for opening the doors, said means acting conjointly to complete the circuit of said electrical means.

21. In a. one-man controlled vehicle, entrance and exit ways, barriers in said ways, means for operating said barriers and electrical means actuated by an act of a passenger for energizing said means for opening said barriers.

22. In a one-man controlled vehicle, entrance and exit Ways, barriers in said ways, a pivoted treadle plate in said vehicle, means for opening said barrier and independent means operated from the exterior of said vehicle for independently opening and closing said barriers.

23. In a one-man controlled vehicle, entrance and exit ways, barriers in said ways,

a tre-adle pivoted in the platform of said vehicle, a switch mounted under said treadle, a motormans push button switch, a: magnet control valve operated pneumatic door engine, circuit connections -for said devices, and means operated by the brake line, fluid pressure for holding said pushbutton in operative position while the brakes are applied.

24. In a one-man eontrolledvehicle having entrance and exit ways, barriers in said ways including a step, electrical means for opening said barriers including a switch, means on said step, tor holding said SWltCl1 in closedposition as longas a passenger.:remains on said step.

25. In a plunger switch, a casing, a plunger rod mounted in said casing, and means operated by said rod for contacting with a plurality of contact points.

26. In a switch, a casing, a. hollow extension in said casing, a rod slidably mounted in said casing and said extension, a cap on said rod enclosing said extension, a spring encircling said rod and mounted in said extension and circuit closing means mounted on said rod.

27. In a switch, a casing having a U- shaped bracket mounted on said casing, a hollow extension on said casing, 21 slidable plunger rod extending through said casing and hollow extension, a spring encircling said rod within said hollow extension, a hollow cap mounted on said rod and sliding over said hollow extension, a vertical rod slidably mounted on said U-shaped bracket, pivoted means connecting said cap and said vertically slidable rod, and circuit closing means in said plunger rod.

28. A push button switch comprising a casing, a plurality of plunger rods terminating exteriorly of the casing in buttons, means for holding said rods in depressed position, and circuit making means on said rods.

29. A push button switch comprising a casing, a hollow extension on said casing, a vertically slidable rod in said extension extending into said casing, a circuit closing means on said vertical rod, a piston on said rod slidably mounted in said extension, a plurality of push button plungers in said casing, circuit closing means on said plungers, and friction means on said vertical rod arranged to frictionally engage said plunger rods.

30. In a drum switch, a casing, a rotatably mounted drum in said casing, a key mounted on the shaft of said drum exteriorly of said casing, a plurality of fingers in said casing and means 011 said drum for closing an electrical circuit between said fingers.

31. In a drum switch, a casing, an insulated drum mounted in said casing for rotation, means on said drum for closing an electrical circuit, a key for rotating said 32. in a. one-man 1 controiledi vehicle: :hav-

ingxnntmnce: and. exit ways;- barriers in said: ways; QlQUtl'iltElMflGflllSxOPB-flblfl by an act-of a plsmngu 15hr upeningi said" barriers .elec-1 tries] nutedsby the'fluidpressure in. theibxhneifor :closing the :circuit to said eleetnicalmeans whereby: saidbarriers canmiube openedi nntiltherbrakes are ap- 33'. annhieleslmwing entrance and exit ways,'- barriers. in: said. we s, w fluid. pressure operated switch, a tread e plate car plunge? sai switch --'mounted: for operationby treaidle, a push button switch mountedwith' respeet'to said fluid pressure switch so that when the abrakes are applied, said fluid pres-r sure switch is closed. and said push button.

switch is maintainedin depressed position by said fluid pressure switch until the brakepressure is relieved.

In testimony whereof I have hereuntozset mysthand on this: 30th day .of December A.D.,i1925. l

i PARISR. FORMAN; 

